Episode 058: Puppies and Lamas

Little Black Book. Later this morning after breakfast I headed back to my tent and found a couple of guests standing outside my door. Puppies! It’s funny, I spend most of my time at home around dogs, but never in a million years did I expect to come across two pups here at 17,000 feet next to Everest!

I’m guessing they were from the Chinese camp as I’ve heard them barking at night when the wind wasn’t blowing. I’ve been having a pretty good day so far. Good filming in the cook tent and now two adorable puppies to play with. It’s going to be a good day.

Later now, and I’ve just returned from the Comms tent. Our friend the Lama swung by camp this afternoon to hang out and Ben offered use of his Sat phone.

Score.

Telephones aren’t too common around here so he was very happy to be able to use it. He dug into his jacket and pulled out this tiny little address book packed with phone numbers. As Ben started to dial the first number he asked our friend, “Tibet?” “No, ” the Lama said, “Kathmandu!”

When the call was placed, I couldn’t understand exactly what was being said, but it probably went something like this:

Lama: Hello?

Friend: ‘Sup?

Lama: Nothing, what’er you doin’?

Friend: Nothing, what about you?

Lama: Not much, just chillin’ at Chomolungma.

Friend: Cool.

Lama: Catch ya later.

Friend: Chow.

Jon Miller

Total Running Time: 18:07

Important Message from Jon:

Hey everyone! As the days of the 2003 Expedition come to an end, I’ve been working hard to secure new content for the show so that there will be more of “The Rest of Everest”.

I’ll be partnering with several climbers over the next year to show you past and present climbs of Everest. It’s going to be very exciting.

I’ll begin the new content this weekend with an introduction to my friend Alan Arnette. Alan is heading back for his 3rd attempt on Everest in Spring 2008 and The Rest of Everest will be following him every step of the way. We’ll begin with his current (September 2007-October 2007) training climb of Shishapangma at 26,289 feet or 8013 meters

. “Shisha” is the 14th highest mountain in the world and one of the famous 8000m peaks in the Himalayas.

Alan is going to be using the publicity for the upcoming Everest climb to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. It’s another ‘climb for a cause’ and I’m very pleased to be associated with it.

For more information please visit Alan’s tremendous website atwww.alanarnette.com and stay tuned for the special “The Road Back To Everest: Memories Are Everything” series of Rest of Everest episodes.

Namaste!

Jon